Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and to regulate emotions in oneself and in others. High EI is associated with more optimism, greater impulse control, better mood, more empathic perspective taking, more closeness and warmth in relationships, greater marital satisfaction, . more cooperation in a Prisoner’s Dilemma situation, more persistence under frustrating circumstances, better adjustment to university in beginning students, higher first year university grades, higher supervisor performance ratings in an undergraduate psychology internship. EI can be measured as an ability, using a test similar to an IQ test, or it can be measured as a personality trait.
Nicola Schutte, others, and I created a trait measure of EI that has been very widely used. The scale is called either the Schutte emotional intelligence scale or the Assessing Emotions Scale. Google Scholar lists over 1700 citations of our 1998 article introducing the scale.
You can complete the scale yourself — see the scale below. Keep in mind that your responses may be influenced by knowing that the scale measures EI. Also, you can use the scale with clients or in research.
To calculate a scale score, reverse code responses to items 5, 28, and 33. That means that after completing all the items, you must change the score for each of these three items to its opposite. So, if your response is 1, change that to a 5; if your response is 4, change that to a 2; and so on. A response of 3 stays as it is. Then sum all responses for a total score.
The mean score across many large samples is about 124, with a standard deviation of about 13. So scores below 111 or above 137 are unusually low or high.
Can we increase our emotional intelligence? It is possible to increase aspects of EI with focused effort, e.g., training in empathy or in self-regulation of emotions.
How do you use your emotional intelligence? How might you increase your application of it?
John Malouff, PhD, Assoc Prof of Psychology
Here is the Assessing Emotions Scale:
Each of the following items asks you about your emotions or reactions associated with emotions. After deciding whether a statement is generally true for you, use the 5-point scale to respond to the statement. Please circle the “1” if you strongly disagree that this is like you, the “2” if you somewhat disagree that this is like you, “3” if you neither agree nor disagree that this is like you, the “4” if you somewhat agree that this is like you, and the “5” if you
strongly agree that this is like you.
1 = strongly disagree
2 = somewhat disagree
3 = neither agree nor disagree
4 = somewhat agree
5 = strongly agree
1. I know when to speak about my personal problems to others. 1 2 3 4 5
2. When I am faced with obstacles, I remember times I faced similar obstacles and overcame them. 1 2 3 4 5
3. I expect that I will do well on most things I try. 1 2 3 4 5
4. Other people find it easy to confide in me. 1 2 3 4 5
5. I find it hard to understand the non-verbal messages of other people. 1 2 3 4 5
6. Some of the major events of my life have led me to re-evaluate what is important and not important. 1 2 3 4 5
7. When my mood changes, I see new possibilities. 1 2 3 4 5
8. Emotions are one of the things that make my life worth living. 1 2 3 4 5
9. I am aware of my emotions as I experience them. 1 2 3 4 5
10. I expect good things to happen. 1 2 3 4 5
11. I like to share my emotions with others. 1 2 3 4 5
12. When I experience a positive emotion, I know how to make it last. 1 2 3 4 5
13. I arrange events others enjoy. 1 2 3 4 5
14. I seek out activities that make me happy. 1 2 3 4 5
15. I am aware of the non-verbal messages I send to others. 1 2 3 4 5
16. I present myself in a way that makes a good impression on others. 1 2 3 4 5
17. When I am in a positive mood, solving problems is easy for me. 1 2 3 4 5
18. By looking at their facial expressions, I recognize the emotions people are experiencing. 1 2 3 4 5
19. I know why my emotions change. 1 2 3 4 5
20. When I am in a positive mood, I am able to come up with new ideas. 1 2 3 4 5
21. I have control over my emotions. 1 2 3 4 5
22. I easily recognize my emotions as I experience them. 1 2 3 4 5
23. I motivate myself by imagining a good outcome to tasks I take on. 1 2 3 4 5
24. I compliment others when they have done something well. 1 2 3 4 5
25. I am aware of the non-verbal messages other people send. 1 2 3 4 5
26. When another person tells me about an important event in his or her life, I almost feel as though I experienced this event myself. 1 2 3 4 5
27. When I feel a change in emotions, I tend to come up with new ideas. 1 2 3 4 5
28. When I am faced with a challenge, I give up because I believe I will fail. 1 2 3 4 5
29. I know what other people are feeling just by looking at them. 1 2 3 4 5
30. I help other people feel better when they are down. 1 2 3 4 5
31. I use good moods to help myself keep trying in the face of obstacles. 1 2 3 4 5
32. I can tell how people are feeling by listening to the tone of their voice. 1 2 3 4 5
33. It is difficult for me to understand why people feel the way they do. 1 2 3 4 5
Schutte, N. S., Malouff, J. M., Hall, L. E., Haggerty, D. J., Cooper, J. T., Golden, C. J., & Dornheim, L. (1998). Development and validation of a measure of emotional intelligence. Personality and Individual Differences, 25(2), 167-177.
Schutte, N.S., Malouff, J.M., & Bhullar, N. (2009). The Assessing Emotions Scale. C. Stough, D. Saklofske & J. Parker (Eds.), The Assessment of Emotional Intelligence. New York: Springer Publishing, 119-135.
Hi Jolene. Those scores are unusually low or high. They may mean the person has unusually low or high EI. However, it is easy to fake good or bad on this self-report scale, so if the person has motivation to fake good or bad, the score may be impossible to interpret.
Good day prof. your scale is very ok, kudos to you all. please i want to use the scale in Nigeria specifically Akwa Ibom State and the norms stated in the scale i dont think it can be applicable here. i suggest i do cross validation, is one permitted to do so?
Hi. You may use the scale for research purposes, including cross-validation.
Hi Dr. malouff,
Firstly I would like to thank you and Dr.Nicola for granting permission to use EI scale. The article was of great help .
My query is since i am using this scale for bank employees in Indian context do the level of EI remain same as told by u in the above article i.e
person scoring below 111 has low Ei and perhaps a person scoring above 137 has high E i. Pease suggests whether is should change with the mean ad SD of sample taken by me or should be take as stated by you.
Thanks in advance waiting for your response.
Hi. It is hard to say whether the mean scores and standard deviations from large samples in the U.S. would be similar in India.
hello sir,
i am looking forward to use your survey in my research, though i am a bit confused about the scoring. i will really appreciate it if you would elaborate your scoring.
Hi Arooj. First, reverse code responses to items 5, 28 and 33. That is, subtract each of these three responses from 6. That will give you for each of these three items a recoded response that can range from 1 to 5. Second, use the recoded responses to calculate a total-scale score by summing all 33 responses, including the recoded responses for items 5, 28, and 33.
Dear Sir,
As stated above for the score interpretation, the mean score across many large samples is about 124, with a standard deviation of about 13. So scores below 111 or above 137 are unusually low or high. With my current study of 107 participants, can I still use the score for my study? Thank you.
Dear Sir,
As stated above, the mean score across many large samples is about 124, with a standard deviation of about 13. So scores below 111 or above 137 are unusually low or high. With my current study of 107 participants, can I still use the score interpretation for my study? Thank you.
Hi Jolene. I think that the answer to your question is yes, but I am not sure that I understand the question.
Dear Prof,
I request your permission to use the scale for my mini research in 3rd-semester.
Thank you so much in advance Prof.
Hi. Anyone may use the scale for research purposes.
John Malouff
GOOD DAY SIR
CAN I USE THIS SCALE FOR MY RESEARCH AMONG NURSING STUDENTS.
Yes. Best wishes!
Greetings! We are from the College of Psychology, 3rd year students form Mary the Queen College of Quezon City Philippines and we will be having a research thesis and as part of our activity research I would like to ask for your permission to allow us to use your Assessing Emotions Scale Questionnaire as one of the materials we will be needing to complete our research.
Hoping for your prompt response regarding this letter. Thank you for your time in reading my request letter.
Sincerely yours,
Odessa Yvette B. Jimenez
Hi Odessa. We put the scale in the public domain. So researchers do not need to obtain our permission to use it. Go right ahead. Best wishes, John
Thanks so much for publishing your scale.
May I get the permission to utilize your tool?. What should I do to get the permission?
Will you please give the score interpretation?
Anyone can use the scale for research or other nonpaid purposes. See the posting of the scale for interpretation rules.
Dear Dr. Malouff,
I am wondering if the questionnaire has been translated into malay language and if does where can i obtain the translated version?
Thank you
Hi Angeline. I do not know. Maybe you could translate it. The usual method is for one person to translate the scale and then another person to back-translate it to show whether the meaning of items or instructions has remainned essentially the same.
Hello,
How long does this take to administer?
Many thanks.
It generally takes 5-10 minutes to complete the measure.
To Whom It May Concern,
We are looking for measuring emotional intelligence in nursing .
Do we need your permission to use this scale? If so, what are the steps we need to take to use it?
Thanks so much
You may use the scale for research without asking for permission. We put the scale in the public domain so researchers could use it.
SO based on my understanding, it is below average for people with low scores than 111, high than average for people having scores above 137 and normal for people who have scores between 111-137 right? actually, I am doing my analysis and it would be a great favour if you reply as soon as possible. Thank you
What you say is accurate, but the ranges may not apply to individuals outside the U.S. and may not apply if repondents have a reason to try to look good or bad.
Sir, I have a doubt how the interpretation is done for the scale. Thanks in advance
Hi Surya. I need a more specific question in order to respond in a helpful way.
hello, may we ask for your permission for the use of the scale for our Higher education students? Especially during the time where the pandemic is happening. we are planning to make use of this scale as a means to help the guidance counselor in her counseling sessions. Moreover, counseling will be done online and the test administration for this scale would be proposed to be done online as well through google forms. Proper citations are given to credit your team’s work.
Hi Voltaire. You may use it for that purpose.
John Malouff
Hello Dr. Malouff!
Thank you for the development of this tool and work on this topic.
I am beginning my doctoral program for nursing and respectfully request permission to use your scale.
Thank you!
Hi Craig. Anyone may use the scale for research purposes.
Hello,
Can we use this for research among undergraduate medical students? If the scoring below 111 it is consider as low, if more than 137 consider as high but if score is between 111-137 how to interpret it? Is this fall on average or high or low?
Please enlighten me on this. Thank you very much. Hope to hear from you soon.
Yes, you can use the scale for research. Scores near the previously found mean are in the normal range.
Hello Sir,
How much time it will take for the completion of this questionnaire? Can we use it in online survey?
Thank you in advance for your quick help
Hi. It may take about 10 minutes to complete the questionnaire. You could take it yourself and time yourself.
You can use it online.
Best wishes,
John
can we give this to Emotional test to highschool students?
thank you!
Yes, you can. I think of it as a self-report measure rather than as a test. Keep in mind that (1) respondents may or may not be honest and (2) high school students may increase substantially in emotional intelligence in the coming several years — especialy if they receive training in emotional skills.
Hello sir,
I want to use the scale for measuring the correlation between family environment and emotional intelligence among adolescents.
Is it possible for you to share the complete Manual.
Thank you so much.
This is not a commercially sold measure, so there is no manual. See our publications about the scale for information on it.
Good day Sir,
We have research that aims to measure the Emotional Intelligence of the students in our school and we are also using the same instrument (the 33-item SSEIT). Will this scale be applicable to our research? Thank you.
Hi Javi. I am not sure what you are asking. If you want to measure EI through self-repor and the participants can read and understand English and have no motivation for not aswhering honestly, use our scale.
Best wishes,
John
i would like to compare the emotional intelligence of working women and housewives using your scale. i need your permission to use it. what i have to do get translation to malayalam.
You have permission to use the scale in research.
Good day. I would like your permission to use and modify Schutte self-report EI test for my study about the influence of EI to productivity of Teachers.
OK. Go ahead.
Best wishes,
John
Hi,
I’m using this scale as part of my research. My mean and standard deviation is lower than what you have posted, does that mean i can change the threshold for what I consider is high or low?
E.g. my mean score is 117 and standard deviation is 17. So, can I assume that below 100 is unusually low and above 134 is high. Or is this incorrect?
thank you 🙂
You can make statements about high and low scorers in your sample. Unless your sample is gigantic, say over 1000, it would be best to use our suggested means and SDs. But keep in mind that means and SDs may vary from culture to culture, situation to situation, and sample to sample. Also, keep in mind that respondents can fake good or bad if they want. The scale is best used not to make statements about high and low but for correlation studies and intervention studies. Also, scores on scale items can help identify for an individual strenths and opportunities for improvement.
Sir is the any subscales for this questionnaire …..any questions pointing out to any particular ascpect of emotional intelligence ….and how is the scoring ?
Is there any Range of low or high or moderate emotional intelligence
How do you score this
Hi. We did not create any subscales.